Coupling



Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE COUPLING James P. Johnson, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application June 1, 1936,: Serial No. 82,761

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in couplings and has for its primary object to .provide a exible coupling unitadapted to connect a drive member and a driven member in such a manner as to prevent the passage of impulses therebetween which otherwise might cause fatigue and breakage due to crystallization of the respective parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a exible coupling for connection between the rotor of a pump and its driving means particularly adapted'for use on aircraft although it will be obvious that the coupling may be employed in other connections with as much eilicien'cy and the invention is not therefore to be so restricted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a iiexible coupling unit having simple and expedient means by which the unit may be connected and disconnected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a exible coupling unit which is simple .in construction, eilicient` in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the objects above indicated, and other objects hereinafter explained in view; my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described claimed.

'Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a coupling embodying the present invention, the coupling illustrated being of double size;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the coupling looking from the right of Figure-1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalV Aview with the elements in extended relation in their manner of assembly, the

parts illustrated being in full size.

In the drawing I have illustrated a coupling,

embodying the present invention and while the parts are shown in full size land double size by reason that couplings of such size have beenV successfully used the size naturally will be dependent upon the purpose for which the coupling is inl tended and the sizetherefore is not a limiting feature.

The coupling is preferably a self contained unit less diameter than the diameter of the body por-y tion II. The body portion II is also. providedn with an axial opening I5 extending inwardly from the projection I4 and terminates in an axial bore s I6 of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the opening I5, the bore extending through outwardly thereof providing a suitable means by which connection is afforded with a driving or drivenl means as the case may be. In the present instance the extension is rectangular in cross section having at parallel faces on its long sides and arcuate faces 2| on its short sides as more clearly shown in Figure '3. `The extension I9 is further provided with breakage grooves 22 on its opposite sidesvadjacent the channel shaped member I I and extending transversely of the flat faces 20 as more clearly shown in Figure 4.

The opposite end of the casting I0 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 23 extending inwardly from the projection Il anddisposed adjacent diametrically opposite portion of the outer surface of the body portion II, the openings 23 terminating ata transverse wall 24 provided in the body portion II, the surface of said wall 24 being a`t. Grooves 25 are provided in the body portion I I outwardly of the openings 23 but communicating therewith and likewise extend inwardly to the wall 24. The grooves 25 are of slightly less width than the diameter of the openings 23 and where the openings overlap the walls of the projection I 4 spaced ends 26 are provided which have slightly rounded edges as more clearly shown in Figure 3.

A resilient member 21, inthe present instance p across the opening I5 and being slightly-spaced` from the ends 26 as more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. l

A metal retainer cap 28 is mounted upon the outer surface of the body portion II and has an -inwardly extending ilange.29 engageable with the Vend wall I3. which 'flange'terminates in an axial opening 30 to receive the projection I4 and extends over the outer. adjacent portion ofthe resilient member 21, more clearly hwndn Figure 1. VThe opposite end of the, cap 2B 'isspun over`at, 3| into engagement with Ithe end wall |21?? and thus retains the elements in Vassembled-relation. This comprises the 'unit coupling and4 it willl be obvious t it consists of la minimum ot parts easily machined and'assembled.

When the coupling is to be used in connection with a rotary pump or the like, the rotor 32, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with an axial extension 33 of a diameter such that it may be easily forced into the opening I5 in the casting I0. The free end of the extension 33 is provided with a transverse slot 34, the adjacent surfaces of which extend angularly from the axis thereof to provide a slight rocking movement between the extension 33 and the resilient member 21 more clearly shown in Figure 2. The extension 33 is definitely positioned within the casting I0 by engagement between the end of the slot 34 and the adjacent edge of the resilient member 21 and when so arranged the free end of the extension 33 projects into the bore I6. An annular groove 35 is provided around the end of the extension 33 and receives a snap ring 36 which detachably secures the extension 33 against accidental displacement. The shape of the ring 36 is more clearly shown in Figure 2 and is insertable through the passageway I8 into the bore I6 where it is readily sprung over the end of the extension 33 and can be moved therealong until it springs into its groove 35. While this construction is simple and expedient it should be understood that otherways of detachably connecting the extension 33 may be adopted and if desired the extension 33 may be secured permanently.

In operation, after the coupling has been installed and the driving means attached to the projection I9, any impulses which may be set up due to rotation of the pump or the parts of the driving means will be absorbed by the' flexibility of the resilient spring members 21 due to their exure within the openings 23.

While I have described .the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch as changes and modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim: f

1. A coupling comprising a body portion having an axial opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating in an axial bore of larger diameter than the diameter of said opening, said body portion being furtherprovided with transversely aligned grooves on diametrically opposite sides of said opening, a substantially U-shaped extension formed integrally with the other end of said body portion and bridging the adjacent end of said bore, a resilient member having its opposite ends disposed within said grooves and its intermediate portion extending across said axial opening, and a retainer cap extending around said body portion and secured thereto in a manner to prevent accidental displacement of said resilient member.

2. A coupling comprising a body portion having an axial opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating in an axial bore of larger diameter than the diameter of said opening, said body portion being further provided with transversely aligned grooves on diametrically opposite sides of said opening, a substantially U-shaped extension formed integrally with the other end of said body portion and bridging the adjacent end of said bore, an axial projection on the end of said U-shaped extension, a resilient member having its opposite ends disposed within said grooves and its intermediate portion extending across said axial opening, and a retainer cap extending around said body portion and secured thereto in a manner to prevent accidental displacement of said resilient member.'

3. A unitary coupling comprising a body portion having an axial'opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating in a coaxial bore of relatively larger diameter than the diameter of said opening, said opening and bore being adapted to receive a portion of a drive or driven member, said body portion having a pair of transversely aligned grooves on diametrically opposite sides of said opening, resilient means comprising a plurality of short, lengths of fiat spring steel arranged in superimposed relation and having their opposite ends disposed within said grooves and their intermediate portions extending across said opening for connection with the drive or driven member whereby a yieldable driving connection is afforded, said body portion having an integral extension bridging the adjacent end of said bore to provide a transverse slot for access to said bore, said extension having an integral axial projection on its outer end adapted for connection with a drive or driven member, and a sleeve encircling said body portion and having an inwardly extending marginal flange at one end engaging the outer face of said body portion for retaining the ends of said resilient means within said grooves and a turned in ange at the opposite end engaging the inner face of said body portion.

4. In a iiexible drive, the combination of a drive member and a driven member, one of said members having a transversely extending slot in one end thereof and a circumferential groove adjacent said slot, and a coupling comprising a body portion having an axial opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating in a co-axial bore of relatively larger diameter A than the diameter of said opening, said opening and bore being adapted to receive the slotted end portion of one of said members, said body portion having a pair of transverselyvaligned grooves on diametrically opposite sides of said opening, resilient means comprising a plurality of short lengths of flat spring steel arranged in superimposed relation and having their opposite ends disposed within said grooves and their intermediate portions extending across said opening and disposed within the slotted end of one of the members whereby a yieldable driving connection is afforded, said body portion having an integral extension bridging the adjacent end of said bore to provide a transverse slot for access to said bore, said extension having an integral axial projection on its outer end adapted for connection with the other of said members, a snap ring insertable through said slot into said bore and yieldably disposed in said groove to prevent accidental disengagement between said member and body portion, and a sleeve encircling said body portion and having an inwardly extending marginal flange at one end engaging the outer face of said body portion -for retaining the ends of said resilient means within said grooves and a turned in flange at the opposite end engaging the inner face of said body portion.

' JAMES P. JOHNSON. 

